Care of implants to ensure their long-term success

Technological advances have made dental implants more acceptable and allowed them to be used in a variety of restorative treatments. Less complex treatment modalities and improved implant design have also reduced their cost, making them more accessible than they used to be.

Dental implant maintenance, like all oral hygiene routines, lies largely with the patient. What advice do we give patients? Do implants need specialised oral hygiene techniques or aids for routine daily care? Do they need to be managed differently when first placed than six months down the line?

While osseointegration allows implants to function like natural teeth, perimplant tissues are not organised in the same way as the periodontium of a natural tooth. The collagen fibres in perimplant tissues run parallel to the implant surface without attachment, unlike periodontal fibres. The perimplant tissue is also less vascular and has fewer fibroblasts than the gingival structures around the teeth (Silerstien et al, 1998). This is important in terms of the susceptibility of the surrounding tissues to break down. An effective oral hygiene routine is critical to the long-term maintenance and success of any implant.